CANBERRA (Dow Jones)--The Australian government has ordered an extra 1.8 million doses of the influenza antiviral Relenza in preparation of a possible pandemic, Health Minister Tony Abbott said Friday. Deliveries of the new order are expected to start in April and be completed within a year, he said in a statement. The World Health Organization predicts the world is overdue for an outbreak of a new flu strain to which no human has immunity and has recommended countries stockpile antivirals to cover one course for 25% of their population. "Australia has the largest stockpiles of antivirals in the world," Abbott said. When the new Relenza supplies plus an additional order for Tamiflu powder announced last weekend are delivered, Australia will have enough antivirals to cover 44% of the population, he said. It is hoped Relenza and Tamiflu will be effective for both prevention and treatment for exposed people during the first stages of a flu pandemic until a vaccine is developed, he said. Australia's Biota Ltd. (BTA.AU), which developed Relenza and licensed it to GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK) several years ago, is suing the U.K.-based drug maker for allegedly failing to promote and support the drug after its launch. Biota receives a 7% royalty on sales of Relenza.
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